Arizona Republican Party is Imploding

The Arizona Republican Party has experienced a turbulent few days, with its chairman quitting and a planned conference set to feature Donald Trump canceled.

On Wednesday, Arizona GOP (AZGOP) chair Jeff DeWit resigned over a leaked recording that appeared to reveal him offering a bribe to Republican Kari Lake not to compete for the state's Senate seat in November, adding there are "very powerful people" who don't want her to run who are "willing to put their money where their mouth is."

Lake is staunch Trump supporter and election denier who has falsely claimed her 2022 gubernatorial race defeat to Katie Hobbs was due to widespread voting irregularities. Lake is now running for the Arizona Senate seat currently held by Independent Krysten Sinema.

DeWit's resignation arrived just before Trump was due to headline the Arizona GOP's "Freedom Fest" on January 26, which was seen as a vital fundraising event and a way to push the party in the right direction in his election year.

Trump has since confirmed he will not be attending the event, as he will be in New York to hear closing arguments in his civil defamation trial. Trump gave a brief testimony on Thursday, but was severely restricted about what he was allowed to say in front of the jury in the proceedings involving his sexual assault accuser, E. Jean Carroll.

"President Trump will be in NYC for court Friday and unable to make the event, but will be back to Arizona as soon as possible," senior Trump spokesperson Jason Miller told The Arizona Republic. "We look forward to winning Arizona for President Trump, electing Kari Lake and working with the AZGOP to do it."

The AZGOP later confirmed that the entire Freedom Fest event has been canceled after Trump confirmed he is not attending.

"We stand with him during this time and eagerly anticipate welcoming him back to Arizona in the near future," the party posted on social media.

The AZGOP has been contacted for further comment via email.

The audio that led to DeWit's resignation showed DeWit asking Lake "is there a number" she would accept which might stop her running for the Arizona Senate seat.

"This is not about money, it's about our country,' Lake replied.

In his resignation letter, DeWit accused Lake of releasing a "selectively edited audio recording" of a private conversation from more than 10 months ago.

"The ethical breach in her recording of our conversation, while Lake was my employee, raises serious legal and moral concerns. This act of recording was not just a betrayal of trust but also a violation of the fiduciary responsibilities of an employee. Contrary to accusations of bribery, my discussions were transparent and intended to offer perspective, not coercion," DeWit said.

DeWit also accused Lake of being on a "mission to destroy" him since the conversation was recorded.

"I said things I regret, but I realize when hearing Lake's recording that I was set up. I believe she orchestrated this entire situation to have control over the state party," DeWit added.

In a previous statement to Newsweek, Lake's campaign team said that the tape "speaks for itself" and that it is "unfortunate that DeWit hasn't recognized how unethical his behavior was."

"The Arizona GOP Chairman Jeff DeWit attempted to bribe Kari Lake. Thankfully Kari is an extremely ethical person who rejected DeWit's multiple attempts to offer her money and corporate board seats in exchange for Kari not running for public office. She will be an incredible Senator for Arizonans. No one from the Kari Lake campaign threatened or blackmailed DeWit," Lake's campaign said.